Ona Munson papers, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library

Repository

Billy Rose Theatre Division

Access to materials

Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

The Ona Munson collection consists of scrapbooks, photographs, contracts and programs which document her life and career.

Biographical/historical information

Ona Munson, an actress, was born June 16, 1906 in Portland, Oregon. She began her professional career in 1922 as a dancer in vaudeville in New York. Three years later she was a musical comedy star appearing in No, No, Nanette, Tip-Toes, Twinkle, Twinkle and Hold Everything. Miss Munson was soon discovered by Hollywood and appeared in several films, including Five Star Final with Edward G. Robinson. She returned to Broadway to appear in a number of dramatic plays, including As Husbands Go, The Silver Cord and Ghosts. Returning to Hollywood, she played in twenty more films, including Gone with the Wind, Wagons Westward, The Shanghai Gesture and Dakota.

Miss Munson was married to Edward Buzzell, 1926-1931, Stewart MacDonald, 19??-19?? and Eugene Berman, 1950-1955. She died February 11, 1955 in New York City.